Casing and drill pipe handling device

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for handling pipe, casing, or other elongated elements employed in a well drilling operation or the like. The apparatus includes draw-works incorporating two winch drums thereon together with a power source for rotating the same which may be mounted on a vehicle or on the end of a catwalk adjacent a pipe rack so that pipe may be picked up from the catwalk and elevated into the drill rig or pipe may be moved from the drill rig back onto the catwalk in a horizontal orientation for storage in a pipe rack alongside of the catwalk. In addition to the drawworks, a cable block is supported in the drill rig generally in the center of the rig and below the monkey board which includes a pulley receiving the cable that connects with the end of the pipe adjacent the rig and which is elevated to the uppermost position when the pipe is elevated into the rig. The cable engaging the end of the pipe remote from the rig when in a horizontal position on the catwalk extends directly to a winch drum to hold this end of the pipe from sliding along the catwalk so that by manipulation of the two cables by actuating the separate winch drums, the pipe may be effectively controlled and handled during either an assembling operation or a laying down operation.

United States Patent [1 1' Freeman, Sr.

CASING AND DRILL PIPE HANDLING Primary Examiner-Albert J. Makay Assistant Examiner-George F. Abraham Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Clarence A. OBrien; Harvey B. Jacobson [451 Feb. 11, 1975 [57] ABSTRACT An apparatus for handling pipe, casing, or other elongated elements employed in a well drilling operation or the like. The apparatus includes draw-works incorporating two winch drums thereon together with .a power source for rotating the same which may be mounted on a vehicle or on the end of a catwalk adjacent a pipe rack so that pipe may be picked up from the catwalk and elevated into the drill rig or pipe may be moved from the drill rig back onto the catwalk in a horizontal orientation for storage in a pipe rack alongside of the catwalk. in addition to the draw-works, a cableblock is supported in the drill rig generally in the center of the rig and below the monkey board which includes a pulley receiving the cable that connects with the end of the pipe adjacent the rig and which is elevated to the uppermost position when the pipe is elevated into the rig. The cable engaging the end of the pipe remote from the rig when in a horizontal position on the catwalk extends directly to a winch drum to hold this end of the pipe from sliding along the catwalk so that by manipulation of the two cables by actuating the separate winch drums, the pipe may be effectively controlled and handled during either an assembling operation or a laying down operation.

11 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATEHIEB FEB I I975 SHEET 10F 2 1 CASING AND DRILL PIPE HANDLING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE lNVENTlON 1. Field of the Invention The present invention generally relates to a handling apparatus for pipe, casing or the like employed during the drilling of a well or while other operations are being conducted in relation to a well such as an oil well or the like and more particularly to an apparatus for elevating an elongated pipe section from a horizontal position on a catwalk adjacent a drill rig to a vertical position in the drill rig for assembly with a pipe or casing string suspended in the well or for moving a pipe section from a vertical position in the drill rig to a horizontal position on the catwalk for storage in a rack alongside the catwalk.

2. Description of the Prior Art The handling of elongated pipe or casing sections when making up or breaking down a pipe or casing string has long been a problem due to various factors encountered when moving an elongated section of pipe or casing between a horizontal position on a catwalk adjacent a pipe storage rack and a drill rig and a vertical position in the drill rig. Due to the weight of the pipe section and the necessity of operators being at various locations on the drill rig and adjacent thereto, substantial incidents of injuries have occurred.

Many techniques and apparatuses have been devised for handling pipe or casing including my prior U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,159,286, issued Dec. 1, 1964 and 3,169,645, is-

sued Feb. 16, 1965. In addition, the following U.S. pa-

tents disclose other devices and apparatuses for use in handling pipe. U.S. pat. Nos. 1,621,009, issued Mar. 15, 1927; 2,201,813, issued May 21, 1940; 2,425,292, issued Aug. 12, 1947; 2,539,751, issued Jan. 30, 1951; 2,690,046, issued Oct. 5, 1954; 3,065,865, issued Dec. 27, 1962.

While previously known and used techniques and ap paratuses perform to a degree of satisfaction and efficiency, under some conditions encountered, such devices create the possibility of injury to persons in and around the drill rigging and utilize excessive periods of time in handling the pipe and casing which, in someinstances, render the entire well drilling or maintenance operation inefficient and thus costly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a device for handling pipe, casing or the like incorporating draw-works oriented at the outer end of the catwalk which the operation of the device is independent of operation of existing equipment on the drill rig with the independent control of the two cables enabling the pipe to be handled without dragging the end of the pipe along the catwalk, inclined slide or rig floor thereby reengaged by the pipe during assembly and disassembly of the pipe or casing string.

Still another important object of the invention is to provide a pipe or casing handling apparatus which is simple in construction, easy to associate with the existing equipment at a well site, efficient and safe in operation and capable of adaption for use in various orientations and organizations of related well equipment.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the handling device of the present invention associated with equipment at a typical well site.

FIG. 2 is a similar perspective view illustrating the pipe in vertically oriented elevated position.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view illustrating the manner in which the cable block is secured to the drill rig.

FIG. 4 is a schematic side elevational view of the in vention utilizing a lower cable block in use in combination with an upper cable block for the cable which engages the upper end of the pipe.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The pipe or casing handling device of the present invention is associated with a conventional and existing assembly normally found at a well site which includes a derrick or rig generally designated by reference numeral 10 which includes a rig floor 14 supported above ground surface in any suitable manner and provided with the usual crown block at the upper end of the derrick, traveling block suspended therefrom by rigging cable, elevators carried by the traveling block, a monkey board supported at an elevated position in the derrick adjacent the upper ends of stands of pipe, casing or the like that may be supported vertically within the derrick and other related structure that is conventional and not illustrated in the present application inasmuch as the conventional components of the apparatus at the well site forms no particular part of the present invention except for their utility and association with the pipe or casing handling device.

Also, the present invention is associated with a conventional catwalk 16 which is normally horizontally disposed and oriented alongside of a pipe rack 18 having a plurality of pipe or casing sections 20 oriented thereon in horizontal stacked relation in a well known manner. The catwalk l6 and pipe rack 18 may be oriented in elevated position above the ground surface or may be at ground level depending upon the particular installational requirements. An inclined slide 22 extends between the end Of the catwalk l6 and the rig floor 14 with a stairway 24 alongside thereof together with a handrailing 26 which forms a continuation of the handrailing 28 around the rig floor. The derrick or rig includes peripheral bracing members or girth 30 at desired vertical locations with the girth being constructed so that pipe sections 20 may enter and exit from one side of the derrick 10 for movement between a vertical position suspended generally centrally of the rig floor as illustrated in FIG. 2 to or from a substantially horizontal position on the catwalk as illustrated in FIG. 1.

For handling the pipe 20, a draw-works assembly generally designated by the numeral 32 is provided and may be mounted on a platform 34 of a vehicle such as a truck or the like so that the assembly may be easily conveyed to the well site and associated with the truck bed or platform 34 in alignment with and engaged with the end of the catwalk 16 remote from the rig as illustrated in FIG. 1. The draw-works assembly includes winch drums 36 and 38 which are hydraulically driven by suitable hydraulic motors 40 and control valve assemblies 42. A cable 44 is reeled onto and off of the winch drum 36 by rotation thereof in a well known manner and extends upwardly in an inclined direction and passes over and is supported by a cable block 46 having a pulley 48 rotatable thereon. The cable then extends downwardly and the terminal end is provided with a sling 50 or other suitable structure for wrapping around the pipe, either as a single wrap or a double wrap so that the upper end of the pipe when in elevated position or the end of the pipe 20 adjacent the rig 10 when in horizontal position on the catwalk will be securely and effectively but yet releasably engaged by the terminal end of the cable 44 which connection is designated by the numeral 50 and may be in the form of a sling of a well known type.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the anchor block 46 is suspended generally in the center of the rig by a pair of suspension cables 52 and 54 that are connected respectively to vertically spaced girths 30. The cables 52 and 54 are flexible so that when the block 46 is not being utilized and no tension exists on the cable 44, the block 46 may be oriented in an out-of-the-way position within the derrick so that it does not interfere with other operations. Also, the block 46 is anchored adjacent the monkey board 31 in the derrick so that the operator on the monkey board may effectively control the pipes 20 when in the vertical orientation whether it be a single length of pipe or a multiple length of pipe forming a stand with the operator on the monkey board enabling the pipe sections or stands to be oriented in vertical position for storage in the derrick as illustrated in FIG. 1 or enabling the pipe section or stand to be aligned with the pipe or casing stem extending'above the rig floor 14 when making up or breaking down the pipe string. To assure that the terminal end of the cable 54 will lower to a position for picking up a pipe 20 from the catwalk, a weight 56 is provided thereon adjacent the terminal end of sling 50 thereby assuring that the cable 44 will be unwound from the drum 36 when it is rotated in adirection to reel the cable 44 off the drum 36.

The other winch drum 38 on the draw-works assembly 32 is provided with a cable 58 wound thereon and the terminal end of the cable 58 is provided with a sling 60 or other suitable structure for connecting to the end of the pipe 20 opposite from the end engaged by the cable 44 which is the lower end when the pipe 20 is in vertical position or the end adjacent the outer end of the catwalk 16 when the pipe section 20 is on the catposition on the catwalk without the pipe dragging along the surface of the catwalk 16, slide 22 or rig floor 14.

FIG. 4 illustrates a variation in the arrangement of the draw-works assembly in which the draw-works assembly 32 is mounted directly on the end of the catwalk 16. In this arrangement, the cable 44 is entrained under a snatch block 62 mounted on the derrick 10 by any suitable means. For example, the snatch block may be attached to the edge of the rig floor 14 or the like and the height of the block 62 may be varied in accordance with the line pull on cable 44 in order to prevent the outer end of the catwalk 16 from being elevated when the cable 44 is tensioned by operation of the winch drum 36. Thus, in this arrangement, rather than the cable 44 going directly to the cable block 46 suspended in the rig adjacent the monkey board, the cable 44 extends in generally a horizontal direction under the pulley on the snatch block 62 and then up to the block 46 in the rig. This provides a substantially horizontal pull on the draw-works 32 and by positioning the snatch block 62 at a desired elevation or height, the pull on the cable 44 can be adjusted so that it will not cause the catwalk 16 to move upwardly since the force vector on the cable 44 may be oriented substantially horizontal and parallel to the catwalk or even can be oriented with the snatch block below the plane of the catwalk if necessary.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, a relatively small cable 51 extends between and connects the slings and 60 or adjacent portions of the cables 44 and 58. The small cable 51 is of a length generally corresponding to the length of the pipe or casing sections 20 being handled and serves the purpose of retaining the slings 50 and 60 and adjacent portions of cables 44 and 58 in substantially properly spaced relation so that the slings 50 and 60 will be positioned adjacent the ends of the pipe section 20 for easier connection therewith. For example, if cable 58 is being reeled onto drum 36, then cable 51 will cause cable 58 to unreel from drum 38 and vice versa so that the tendency of the cables 44 and 58 to become slack on the drums will be avoided. Inasmuch as the cables are kept tight which prevents the cables from crossing or running over themselves when being reeled or unreeled with respect to the drums, the reeling and unreeling of the cables is more effectively performed.

The slings at the terminal ends of the cables may be of rope, flexible cable or other flexible members which I may be singly or doubly wrapped around the pipe. The

draw-works may be provided with suitable controls so that a single operator may effectively control movement of the cables and may be completely independent of the rig or mounted on the catwalk. Mounting the draw-works on a truck or the like enables the assembly to be driven to the well site and positioned in alignment with the catwalk as'indicated with only the anchor block being suspended from the girths of the rigging thus enabling the device to be quickly and readily put into operation and removed when desired. The drawworks may be provided with hydraulic drive assemblies, planetary gearing and a counterbalance valve which will maintain the drums in position when they are not being driven in either one direction or other thereby eliminating the reliance upon a brake device for the drums which frequently is subject to failure or relies upon the action of the operator to be applied whereas the counterbalance valve in the control assembly will automatically stop and lock the motors and thus the drums when pressurized hydraulic fluid ceases flowing to the motor. Other types of devices may be employed for securing the cables to the pipe such as hooks, bucket type devices, small elevators and the like.

With this assembly, pipe, casing, tubing or other elongated members may be effectively handled both when the pipes or other members are being lifted into the derrick from the catwalk or when the pipe or other members are being removed from the derrick and placed on the catwalk with the elongated member under accurate and positive control at all times during the movement of the elongated member and eliminating sliding movement of either end of theelongated member along supporting surfaces.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A pipe or casing handling device for use in combination with an on-site well rig including a derrick provided with a rig floor, girths, 'a monkey board in elevated relation to the floor and a catwalk extending outwardly from the derrick alongside a pipe rack, said device comprising a drawworks including two independently operated winch drums, each of said winch drums including a cable thereon, the cable from one winch drum extending to an elevated position in the derrick, a cable block secured in elevated position in the derrick, adjacent the monkey board, receiving the cable thereover, the cable from the cable block then extending downwardly and provided with means on the terminal end thereof for releasable connection with one end of a section of pipe, the cable on the other winch drum being in the form of a tag line extending directly to and including a terminal end means detachably connected to the other end of the section of pipe whereby the section of pipe, by manipulating the winch drums, may be moved between a vertical position within the derrick and a horizontal position on the catwalk without the lower end of the pipe dragging along the surface of the catwalk or rig floor, said cable block being suspended from girths in the derrick by flexible cable means to enable the cable block to be positioned out of the way when not in use, the terminal end portion of the cable entrained over the cable block including a weight to assure that the terminal end portion of the cable will be moved to a lowered position for connection with the end of a section of pipe oriented on the catwalk.

2. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said draw-works is mounted on a platform of a mobile vehicle to enable the draw-works assembly to be moved into alignment with the outer end of the catwalk.

3. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said draw-works is mounted on the outer end of the catwalk.

and the snatch block will generally parallel the catwalk to prevent the outer end of the catwalk from lifting upwardly when the cable is used in handling a pipe whereby variation in height of the snatch block will vary the lifting force exerted on the outer end of the catwalk by the winch drum.

5. The structure as defined in claim 1 together with a flexible line interconnecting the cables adjacent the terminal end portions thereof. said flexible line having a length approximately the length ofthe pipe for retain ing the terminal end portions of the cables in adjacent relation to the ends of the pipe and keeping the cables tightly wound on the drums.

6. A pipe or casing handling device for use in combination with an on-site well rig including a derrick provided with a rig floor, girths, a monkey board in elevated relation to the floor and a catwalk extending outwardly from the derrick alongside a pipe rack, said device comprising a drawworks including two independently operated winch drums, each of said winch drums including a cable thereon, the cable from one winch drum extending to an elevated position in the derrick,

' a cable block secured in elevated position in the der- 4. The structure as defined in claim 3 together with nal end thereof for releasable connection with one end of a section of pipe, the cable on the other winch drum being in the form ofa tag line extending directly to and including a terminal end means deta'chably connected to the other end of the section of pipe whereby the section of pipe, by manipulating the winch drums, may be moved between a vertical position within the derrick and a horizontal position on the catwalk .without lower end of the pipe dragging along the surface of the catwalk or rig floor, said winch drums being driven by independent hydraulic motors together with valve means stopping the motors and drums when hydraulic pressure no longer drives the drums in either direction thereby locking the drums in rotational position without use of an external brake thereby avoiding the possibility of unwanted free movement'of the cables or pipe when the drums are stopped, the terminal end portion of the cable entrained over the cable block includes a weight to assure that the terminal end portion of the cable will be moved to a lowered position for connection with the end of a section of pipe oriented on the catwalk.

7. The structure as defined in claim 6 together with a flexible line interconnecting the cables adjacent the terminal end portions thereof, saidflexible line having a length approximately the length of the pipe for retain ing the terminal end portions of the cables in adjacent relation to the ends of the pipe and keeping the cables tightly wound on the drums.

8. A device for handling elongated rigid members comprising a platform, a pair of independent winch drums mounted on said platform, power means for driving said drums, control means for selectively driving said drums in a selected direction, a flexible member wound on each of said drums, means on the free end of each flexible member for detachable connection with an end portion of said elongated member, and a pulley blocksupported in elevated position receiving the flexible member connected with the end portion of the elongated member remote from the winch drums for moving the elongated member between generally horizontal and vertical position, a flexible line interconnecting said flexible members wound on the drums adjacent the free ends thereof, said flexible line having a length approximately the length of the elongated member for retaining the free ends of the flexible members in adjacent relation to the ends of the elongated member and keeping the flexible members tightly wound on the drums.

9. The structure as defined in claim 8 wherein said platform is oriented in adjacent relation to a well rig, said pulley block being disposed in elevated relation on the rig and generally in alignment with the central portion of the rig floor.

10. The structure as defined in claim 8 wherein said winch drums are driven by independent hydraulic motors together with valve means stopping the motors and drums when hydraulic pressure no longer drives the drums in either direction thereby locking the drums in zontal position. 

1. A pipe or casing handling device for use in combination with an on-site well rig including a derrick provided with a rig floor, girths, a monkey board in elevated relation to the floor and a catwalk extending outwardly from the derrick alongside a pipe rack, said device comprising a drawworks including two independently operated winch drums, each of said winch drums including a cable thereon, the cable from one winch drum extending to an elevated position in the derrick, a cable block secured in elevated position in the derrick, adjacent the monkey board, receiving the cable thereover, the cable from the cable block then extending downwardly and provided with means on the terminal end thereof for releasable connection with one end of a section of pipe, the cable on the other winch drum being in the form of a tag line extending directly to and including a terminal end means detachably connected to the other end of the section of pipe whereby the section of pipe, by manipulating the winch drums, may be moved between a vertical position within the derrick and a horizontal position on the catwalk without the lower end of the pipe dragging along the surface of the catwalk or rig floor, said cable block being suspended from girths in the derrick by flexible cable means to enable the cable block to be positioned out of the way when not in use, the terminal end portion of the cable entrained over the cable block including a weight to assure that the terminal end portion of the cable will be moved to a lowered position for connection with the end of a section of pipe oriented on the catwalk.
 2. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said draw-works is mounted on a platform of a mobile vehicle to enable the draw-works assembly to be moved into alignment with the outer end of the catwalk.
 3. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said draw-works is mounted on the outer end of the catwalk.
 4. The structure as defined in claim 3 together with a snatch block mounted on said well rig adjacent the rig floor for receiving the cable extending to the cable block in vertically elevated position in the derrick so that the tension on the cable between the winch drum and the snatch block will generally parallel the catwalk to prevent the outer end of the catwalk from lifting upwardly when the cable is used in handling a pipe whereby variation in height of the snatch block will vary the lifting force exerted on the outer end of the catwalk by the winch drum.
 5. The structure as defined in claim 1 together with a flexible line interconnecting the cables adjacent the terminal end portions thereof, said flexible line having a length approximately the length of the pipe for retaining the terminal end portions of the cables in adjacent relation to the ends of the pipe and keeping the cables tightly wound on the drums.
 6. A pipe or casing handling device for use in combination with an on-site well rig including a derrick provided with a rig floor, girths, a monkey board in elevated relation to the floor and a catwalk extending outwardly from The derrick alongside a pipe rack, said device comprising a drawworks including two independently operated winch drums, each of said winch drums including a cable thereon, the cable from one winch drum extending to an elevated position in the derrick, a cable block secured in elevated position in the derrick, adjacent the monkey board, receiving the cable thereover, the cable from the cable block then extending downwardly and provided with means on the terminal end thereof for releasable connection with one end of a section of pipe, the cable on the other winch drum being in the form of a tag line extending directly to and including a terminal end means detachably connected to the other end of the section of pipe whereby the section of pipe, by manipulating the winch drums, may be moved between a vertical position within the derrick and a horizontal position on the catwalk without lower end of the pipe dragging along the surface of the catwalk or rig floor, said winch drums being driven by independent hydraulic motors together with valve means stopping the motors and drums when hydraulic pressure no longer drives the drums in either direction thereby locking the drums in rotational position without use of an external brake thereby avoiding the possibility of unwanted free movement of the cables or pipe when the drums are stopped, the terminal end portion of the cable entrained over the cable block includes a weight to assure that the terminal end portion of the cable will be moved to a lowered position for connection with the end of a section of pipe oriented on the catwalk.
 7. The structure as defined in claim 6 together with a flexible line interconnecting the cables adjacent the terminal end portions thereof, said flexible line having a length approximately the length of the pipe for retaining the terminal end portions of the cables in adjacent relation to the ends of the pipe and keeping the cables tightly wound on the drums.
 8. A device for handling elongated rigid members comprising a platform, a pair of independent winch drums mounted on said platform, power means for driving said drums, control means for selectively driving said drums in a selected direction, a flexible member wound on each of said drums, means on the free end of each flexible member for detachable connection with an end portion of said elongated member, and a pulley block supported in elevated position receiving the flexible member connected with the end portion of the elongated member remote from the winch drums for moving the elongated member between generally horizontal and vertical position, a flexible line interconnecting said flexible members wound on the drums adjacent the free ends thereof, said flexible line having a length approximately the length of the elongated member for retaining the free ends of the flexible members in adjacent relation to the ends of the elongated member and keeping the flexible members tightly wound on the drums.
 9. The structure as defined in claim 8 wherein said platform is oriented in adjacent relation to a well rig, said pulley block being disposed in elevated relation on the rig and generally in alignment with the central portion of the rig floor.
 10. The structure as defined in claim 8 wherein said winch drums are driven by independent hydraulic motors together with valve means stopping the motors and drums when hydraulic pressure no longer drives the drums in either direction thereby locking the drums in rotational position without use of an external brake thereby avoiding the possibility of unwanted free movement of the flexible members or elongated member when the drums are stopped.
 11. The structure as defined in claim 8 wherein the terminal end portion of the flexible member received on the elevated pulley block includes a weight to assure that the terminal end portion of the flexible member will be moved to a lowered position for connection with the end of the elongated rigid member oriented in horizontal position. 